Moscow Mule Mocktail

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to create the this mocktail Moscow mule at home. Scroll down to the printable recipe card to find the exact ingredient quantities and full recipe instructions.

• Lime juice – Fresh is a must here. Bottled lime juice just doesn’t give you that same wonderfully bright, fresh-squeezed flavor.
• Simple syrup – You can buy this or make it; I share the super simple instructions in the recipe card. This mixes more smoothly into a cocktail than granulated sugar.
• Mint – Traditional Moscow mules and Mojitos incorporate fresh spearmint. This adds another layer of cool refreshment.
• Ginger beer – We prefer brands like Fever Tree or Bundaberg, which are not as sweet as many others. (These were the winners in our family’s ginger beer blind taste test!)
• Club soda – Use sparkling water if you prefer.

That’s Ginger Beer, NOT Ginger Ale

Step away from the bottle of Canada Dry! A proper Moscow mule is made with ginger beer, which has some heat to it; just like fresh ginger root, it’s punchy and warm. 

Now, the beer vs. ale isn’t a hard and fast rule, but generally speaking, ginger ales are much milder in flavor than ginger beers, although both are non-alcoholic. If you want that signature kick, make sure to use ginger beer — or a ginger ale that you know for certain packs a punch.

How to Make Moscow Mule Mocktails

Let’s get mixing! You don’t even need a cocktail shaker for this mocktail recipe.

• Muddle. Combine the lime juice, simple syrup, and fresh mint in a glass or copper mule cup. Use a muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon) to crush the fresh mint leaves a bit, which will release more of their flavor and aroma.

• Add the rest of the ingredients. Fill the glass one-third full with ice, then pour in the ginger beer and top with club soda.
• Finish. Give the drink a quick, gentle to stir to combine, then garnish with lime and a sprig of mint, and serve.

Tips & Variations

I’ve got a few additional pointers for making a Moscow mule mocktail.

• Copper mugs: nice, but not a must. If you have traditional copper mugs for making mules, they’ll make your mocktail a little more special. They also help keep the drinks colder longer. But they are absolutely not a requirement.
• Just chill. To get your drink off to an extra refreshing start, store your ginger beer and club soda in the fridge, so it’s cold from the get-go.
• Add cucumber. Toss a couple slices of fresh cucumber into your glass and muddle it along with the mint.
• Make it spicy. If you like heat, add a couple slices of fresh jalapeno and muddle it with the mint.
• Add fruit. Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and pineapple are great additions to a mule – just muddle them with the mint. Fruit purees, juices, and nectars also work well. In the fall, try adding some fresh-pressed apple cider from a local orchard. For the holidays, add some pure cranberry juice and make a pretty garnish out of fresh cranberries.